Freestone · Mixed · Borders, GB-SCT

Whiteadder Water

Whiteadder Water venue image

The Whiteadder is a tributary of the lower Tweed that joins just above Berwick, draining the Lammermuir Hills through Duns and Chirnside.

Prime · Brown Trout
Elk Hair Caddis · 12-16
Primelive now
About as good as it gets
Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
90% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.29 mLast reading 1h ago
  • Water temp15.1°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Elk Hair Caddis
Elk Hair Caddis12-16
High-confidence seasonal pick
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.29 m
Last reading 1h ago
Water temp15.1°C
ClarityClear
Weather14°C
WindW 23 km/h
Pressure1019 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead7.2 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Brown Trout
Ideal
15°C est.ideal 1016°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Brown Trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Likely species
Mayflies
  • Blue-winged oliveMost likely
    #16–18 · Dun
    Duns are up; a sherry spinner fall may follow.
  • Anglers curse mayfliesAlso possibleLower confidence
    #20–22 · Spinner
    Go tiny: 20-22 spent spinner, single fly, long tippet.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6pm

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

See what else is on the menu with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box

A balanced Scottish river profile. Early season nymphs and spiders, then more dry-fly and emerger fishing as hatches strengthen on steadier glides and richer water.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The Whiteadder is a tributary of the lower Tweed that joins just above Berwick, draining the Lammermuir Hills through Duns and Chirnside. It is one of the best small-stream wild trout rivers in the Borders — underrated next to the Tweed itself but arguably more rewarding for the angler who enjoys intimate water and willing fish. The river above Duns is proper small-stream water: pockets, short runs, overhanging willows, trout that rise to a dry fly with enthusiasm. Below Duns it broadens out and starts to feel more like its parent river. Whiteadder Angling Club and Duns Castle permits cover most of the fishable water and are cheap and accessible. The trout are not large — six to ten ounces is the average — but they are wild, numerous, and beautifully marked. A fine antidote to the pressure and price of the Tweed itself, and a perfect river for teaching somebody to fish.

  • Mixed
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyModerate
  • ChemicalUnknown

SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC005101

The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 90%
How the 84 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time60 × 13%7.8
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity62 × 12%7.4
Conditions total= 84
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
What would change the calculation
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts